Philadelphia Phillies: Nick Williams’ 2018 expectations versus reality
By Tim Boyle
Following a productive 2017 rookie campaign, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Williams is expected to do even more in 2018. Can he realistic meet those expectations?
Outfielder Nick Williams will begin the 2018 season fresh off a solid first season with the Philadelphia Phillies. Though he struggled defensively, the Phillies could count on Williams at the plate.
Over 343 plate appearances, Williams slashed .288/.338/.473 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI. The half-season performance averaged out to a 23 home run and 107 RBI campaign over 162 games. Given the chance to play for a full year in 2018, we can expect to see some even better numbers from the 24-year-old outfielder. Can he deliver?
2018 Expectations
We should never fully judge a player on what they do over a half season. Remember how well Maikel Franco did in his shortened rookie campaign? A lot of that faith has been lost in the two years since.
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Not all ball players are created equally. Williams could very well enter his sophomore season the same way Ryan Howard did. Although, we shouldn’t expect anything near the same level of production as “The Big Piece” delivered in his second big league season.
Instead, we should see Williams post similar statistics. In his minor league seasons, Williams regularly hit between .280-.300. He never walked much, which may catch up to him. Williams is a little too free with his bat. More than a strikeout per game is a fair assumption.
The most exciting expectation for Williams to reach is in the power department. Can he develop into a true power threat able to launch 20 bombs a season?
2018 Reality
The only issue I foresee with Williams is how quickly he may lose playing time. Considering the abundance of outfield options, a slow start could mean he loses playing time to Aaron Altherr. It’s a near guarantee that Odubel Herrera patrols center field and Rhys Hoskins claims left field as his own. When it comes to right field, Williams may need to battle it out with Altherr for the majority of playing time.
When it comes to meeting the expectations, the reality is that he certainly can.
Williams will continue to strike out a lot and that may frustrate fans. Thankfully, he can make up for it by also making sure plenty of balls land for hits. Among Phillies who reached the 250 plate appearance plateau last year, Williams had the second highest batting average. Only Cesar Hernandez and his .294 average bested him.
Worst Case Scenario
The worst thing that can happen to Williams in 2018 is that he become a strikeout machine. With more tape of him facing MLB pitchers, it’s always possible. He wouldn’t be the first to suffer through a sophomore slump. If it happens, he won’t be the last.
There’s always a chance the Phillies trade Williams. The rumor mill has already suggested such. If so, Williams’ new team may have to wait for a slight adjustment.
Patience is key with Williams. The Philadelphia Phillies showed enough faith in him in 2017 even after struggling at Triple-A. Hopefully, this gave the kid the confidence boost he needed.